Meet The Breed: Shih Tzu
Monday, March 20, 2017 10:09:41 AM America/Los_Angeles
Outgoing. Playful. Affectionate. These are just three of the many attributes you’ll find when you bring a Shih Tzu (pronounced “SHEET-zoo” by Americans, or "SURE-ds” if you’re using the original Chinese translation) to your home. At DoggieLawn, we not only want to help make sure any beloved pet you have has the tools it needs to be happy, we also want to share with you our expertise about dogs and the types of dogs that you may want to own next. While there are so many dog breeds to choose from, we think the Shih Tzu has a great temperament and some unique characteristics that could make it your next great family pet!
About the Shih Tzu
This fluffy, friendly pet breed is named “little lion” and is said to have descended from crossing the Lhasa Apso or Tibetan mountain dog and Pekingese, in the city of Peking in the 17th century. There are also documents, paintings and other art objects that indicate a legend of the Shih Tzu from 624 AD. It appears that the dogs were a favorite palace pet of the Chinese royals and were so prized that for years the Chinese refused to sell, trade, or give away any of the dogs. It was not until the 1930s that the first pair was imported to England, when it was discovered by English soldiers during World War II. The Shih Tzu was recognized in Britain in 1946. The AKC recognized the breed in 1969 and is currently its 20th most popular breed.
Physical Traits of a Shih Tzu
Some of the notable physical traits of a Shih Tzu include the following:
- Shih Tzus typically weigh 9 to 19 pounds. Those under nine pounds are unofficially called an Imperial Shih Tzu or Tiny Teacup Shih Tzu.
- A Shih Tzu can grow up to 11 inches tall with a body that is slightly longer.
- It has a round, broad head with a wide space between the large, round eyes.
- Shih Tzus can be many different colors and combinations of colors, but all have a double coat of dense and long flowing hair that covers all parts of the dog, including a profuse beard and mustache.
- Shih Tzus shed little to no hair and are good for allergy sufferers.
- Shih Tzus have an average lifespan of 15 years or more.
Personality Traits of a Shih Tzu
The lively little Shih Tzus are happy, friendly, gentle and packed with loads of personality. When it’s not making itself comfortable on your lap, they make an exceptional watchdog, with their courage and cleverness. Generally they are also great with other pets. It’s important to set consistent rules and limits for your Shih Tzu and that ALL members of the household follow them. Failure to do so can lead to Small Dog Syndrome, which are human-induced behaviors where the dog will think it is the boss of the humans. These bad behaviors are learned and not natural traits of the breed, but they may include incessant barking, growling, separation anxiety and even biting. Besides setting and following rules, taking it for daily walks to burn energy will also help improve the Shih Tzu's temperament.
Your Shih Tzu’s Perfect DoggieLawn Plan
The Shih Tzu breed can be challenging to potty train, but DoggieLawn has the perfect solution. Our specially formulated, hydroponically grown grass is designed to work perfectly as an indoor dog potty, or outside on your balcony as a fresh potty patch. We try to make it as easy as possible to choose the best DoggieLawn plan with our easy setup and product explanations. Below you will find some helpful tips on making your DoggieLawn the most successful potty training tool for your Shih Tzu.
For Puppies: The general rule of thumb is to take how many months old your pup is, add one, and that is how long they can hold it! So if your pup is only a few months old, you can bet they could be going 4+ times per day. For this, we would recommend our Petite Pooch plan at a frequency of every other week or every week. This is so the grass potty pad does not get too saturated with urine. Keep in mind - you can ALWAYS switch your plan as your pup gets older! This grass patch size of 20 x 24 inches is also ideally for dogs less than 25 pounds.
Because older dogs don’t have to go so often, you can feel confident selecting a lower frequency such as every three or every four weeks.. This is also true if you are supplementing the lawns with daily walks. We do recommend curtailing walks during training on the DoggieLawn though so that your dog understands that your grass patch can also be used as a potty solution when a walk isn’t available. If you feel like your Shih Tzu needs a larger space to go, we offer a grass patch of 24 x 48 inches.
Because we know circumstances change, we make it easy to switch your plan or frequency at anytime by logging into your account to make the changes you prefer!
Contact DoggieLawn Today!
If you’ve purchased or adopted a Shih Tzu or any other breed of dog, we’re here to help make sure you and it have the best experience in your home. Check out our grass pad plans that will help make your dog feel at home. Call us at (310) 853-8997 if you have any questions about our services or how they can help your dog. We look forward to being a positive part of your pet-owning experience.
